Alone.

My magic training persisted alone for another month.

I am currently in the snow,outside freezing and training.

I can now create the ball of lightning in 47 seconds. 47.5 to be precise.

I achieved this time by making the optimal hand positioning and a spot of good luck.

The issue is, the lightning can never seem to build up fast enough. From time to time, the lightning will even go in the compeltely wrong direction leaving me dumbfounded and frustrated.

If only I could solve this issue...

Then I remembered, there is one thing that might be mysterious enough to help.

World energy. Though I had attempted to use it previously, I must've been doing it wrong.

As my guardian had said, geniuses don't have to do anything.

So I merely dragged the world energy between my hands as the lightning built up.

Before I knew it, lightning was being dragged from my hands and rotated before a maddening ball of red lightning formed with a fulgent white center. It must've only taken around 7 seconds and more world energy had already moved behind it.

Before I knew it my mind gave the comand instinctively.

Boom.

The ball crashed through the snow stopping at a tree. The mark remained even after its dissapitation and I walked back into the cottage.

I had been bored out of my mind for months on end and it was time to address the reason why.

"Are you ever going to teach me anything?" I could hear the child in my voice yet my anger ensued as it rightfully should have.

"I've just been sitting around, solving problems whilst you slouch around looking at books for the rest of your days. What will it take to prove you should train me? Aren't I a genius?"

He looked down at me from the rim of his study glasses.

"Yes, you are a genius. And we are waiting for a visitor as of now."

I looked even more dumbfounded.

"Unless this visitor is a world-ending monster I see no reason that you must wait by this door for every second of your days."

"You have everything you need to grow strong."

I growled inwardly.

My advancments in the lotus step were meek, I could move fast but I injured myself with every command I sent to the world energy. I feared a fast loss in a real-world fight. My limited study use was mostly for knowledge of this world.

And even then I was restricted from knowing too much.

"What about a name, a birthday an identity?"

I met his cold eyes ruthlessly.

"I don't have those, do I?"

"Make your own name."

"Wha-?" I looked at him dumbfounded.

Was this his way to say he didn't like me. He didn't even want the slightest sense of attachment between us?

"Fine."

I slammed the door behind me gritting my teeth at its enchanted wood that made it impossible to shut loudly.

Name. What should my name be?

A month passed.

My name is still undecided. I don't want to rush it. My name is my identity. My being. I have decided my birthday though. I decided it will be on the 34th month on the 8th day. This world seems to be an awkward parralel to Earth. It has 36 months and an average of 12 days in a month. I don't even understand how the astrolodgy works out.

Unfortunately, I doubt my guardian is the type to heave gifts on ones birthday.

My training has advanced slightly. I can form the ball in 7.4 seconds and my Lotus Step has become more refined. I'd argue I could beat a beginner by now in terms of strength.

I've begun going on long strolls. There is little to no life in the smog lands.

I went on a particularly long walk today, taking in a large amount of the strong odour of smoke.

I found a ravine of sorts, I was sitting by a silver tree when I saw a snake-necked bird fly over the ravine.

Curious, I watched as it flapped wildly and cruelly.

"CAAWW."

I watched in boredom as it flew over my head, yet watched in paralysis at what happened after.

An invisible force, grabbed the bird by the neck. Dragging it down the ravine, I dared not look over.

Sweat streamed down my body as my knees trembled uncontrolabbly.

I hid in the grass for hours. Inhaling the now deathly odour of smoke.Even prompting a questionable look from my mentor when I returned later that day.

Over the following weeks I took more and more strolls, observing this ominous force of nature. No major training advancments were out yet I concluded something much worse than a stagnation in my training.

This was no force of nature.

This was a monster. A creature. Alive.

I begun experiments and tests the following week.

I begun by throwing down a stick. Then another. Then two at once. And so on.

Next I threw a rock. Then another. Then two at once. And so on.

Later, I found a small scaly lizard by my sole.

I picked it up and crossed the smog lands.

I threw it into the air above the cranky ravine.

Like time stopped the frog flew through the air, towards the other side.

Then time resumed. Nature, even.

The frog was clenched in an invisible hand. And dragged to the depths of the ravine.

There was something down in this ravine. And it was hungry. I dared not think of the consequences of going down myself. Who in their right mind would do such a thing.

I decided to stay away from the ravine. I trained as I had done for months again and and again. Pushing the ravine to the back of my mind and stomping out any sparks of curiosity that rose.

Never.

I swore to myself that I would never go near that ravine again.

Not if I was feeling less than suicidal.

Extra Act

The Naming Dilemna

Now.

Being in another world means that all the good names from your last one are yours.

Yours and yours alone.

And if someone also has yours from another world?

Either you've got a big problem and an even bigger reincarnation issue or you've got a fan.

As I struck through names, writing each in the snow I found myself crossing off more and more.

My name needs to be meaningful.

I can't just write it in the snow.

That would be preposterously underwhelming.

Therefore I shall earn it.

Yujiro Hanma.

Alright. A pretty strong name, fit for a strong man.

So let's say... 25 pushups?

I'm kidding.

24.

As my small body got into a position that I hadn't touched in years, I felt a rush of unfortunate nostalgia wash through me.

In a full-blown press-up position, my arms began bending to the significant sides.

My breathing became coarse and more drawn-out as my face became hot.

An ache formed in my joints and arms as my back felt like it was carrying steel bars.

I hit 8.

With 2 more to go, I attempted to rush yet the urge to just fall, give up and falter was overwhelming.

My hair brushed the snow again and again.

Each up and down could be my last.

My hair felt soaked and unpleasant as the snow that had somehow settled on it melted and formed a dripping sculpture.

I didn't keep track of the count.

But it was below the esteemed 24.

I should've probably taken a break between my last training exercise, now that I truly think about it.

My face lay, side-layed out in the snow.

All was within my view as half my body felt soaked, engulfed, and suffocated, whilst the other felt chilled and brushed by howling winds.

The field looked like a white beach, the sea is replaced by an impenetrable silver sky.

The sky and the ground meet, causing the sky to seem like the dark side. The umbra of the ground.

I know that if I keep my position then I'll remain cold and only get colder, but it's pleasant.

It's a pleasant natural feel.

A flock of ink-black birds swoops over me, their distant caws feel dream-like and rebellious.

Their wings blast forward as they end up diving down, picking up pace and speed.

My eyes follow them perfectly as my figure slowly raises, trying to see the miracles of nature.

I watch with star-dazed eyes as they head away from me.

Their silhouettes shrink and become so small that even ants would fare better in my view.

Closing my eyes, I let my figure release itself upon the snow-haven.

Worries could come later.

Ravines could come later.

Even Life could come later.

Because right now, the winter solstice was the only company that I needed.

That and maybe a system.

That isn't possible?

Then right now, the winter solstice is the only company I need.

And that's that.